Garissa MCA Arrested in Ksh51 Million Fraud Probe

A sitting Member of County Assembly in Garissa has been arrested over an alleged Ksh51.4 million fraud linked to irregular payments for emergency relief supplies that were never delivered.

The arrest was carried out by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, which said the lawmaker is among three senior county officials implicated in what investigators describe as a coordinated scheme to siphon public funds through a private company.

The MCA, Abdi Ibrahim Daar, who represents Balambala Ward, is accused of benefiting from payments made to Qorjarey Enterprise and General Supplies Limited, a company where he is listed as the sole director and bank signatory.

At the time the payments were processed, he had served as a Social Development Officer in the Garissa County Government before later being elected to the county assembly.

According to investigators, between August 2021 and September 2022, the Garissa County Government paid out Ksh51,495,516 to the firm for the purported supply of emergency relief food items and water trucking services.

Detectives allege that the goods and services were never delivered.

Two former senior county officials have also been arrested in connection with the payments. They are Mohamud Dubow Korane, the former Director of Accounting Services, and Yussuf Bethe Ali, a former Senior Principal Economist.

The anti-graft agency claims the duo processed and approved the payments without any lawful procurement process and despite the absence of an approved budgetary provision.

Investigators further allege that the company was not among the prequalified suppliers for the financial years in question and that supporting documents were forged to facilitate the disbursement of funds.

Following the conclusion of investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which approved charges against the three suspects.

They are expected to face counts including conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, abuse of office, forgery, and fraudulent acquisition of public property under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and the Penal Code.

The suspects were arrested on Sunday and are scheduled to appear before the Garissa Law Courts for plea taking.

In addition to the criminal proceedings, the anti-corruption commission indicated it will pursue civil action to recover the alleged loss of public funds.

The arrests are likely to intensify scrutiny of procurement practices within county governments, particularly on the handling of emergency funds, which have repeatedly come under audit queries in recent years.